Sky Meadows State Park

Elevation: 712 ft.

Sky Meadows State Park gets its name from the fields flanking the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west. The park provides access to these fields and forests through a variety of nature trails, which eventually connect with the Appalachian Trail as it follows the ridgeline. These fields and forests support a variety of wildlife and make for an enjoyable wildlife watching experience. The trees around the visitor center should be checked for Baltimore orioles and red-headed woodpeckers as they forage in the more open treetops. While walking through the fields, keep careful watch for the quick flying loggerhead shrike, an uncommon resident of the park. Shrikes can sometimes be seen near the pastures along US 17, west of the fishing pond. Raptors, such as red-tailed hawk and American kestrel, can often be seen soaring majestically over the open fields in the company of turkey and, occasionally, black vultures. Bald eagles have also been seen flying past, as well as an occasional golden eagle. Eagles are primarily seen November through January. The wide variety of wildflowers found along the park’s trails support good numbers of swallowtail butterflies with eastern tiger, spicebush and pipevine all being seasonally abundant. Hackberry emperors can be found along the trails through the more wooded portions of the park.